Did former Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III just take a jab at certain political figures who like to wear black?
During a press conference at Wack-Wack Golf and Country Club in Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial slate's final grand rally Friday, May 9, Sotto shared an election-related superstition that he observed from the late senator Ernesto "Ernie" Maceda.
"Wala naman akong natatandaan [na pamahiin] except noong araw si Senator Maceda. Isa ako sa mga palaki ni Senator Maceda, 1992 hanggang 2000 (I can't remember any superstion except for the one that I learned from Senator Maceda. I was one of those mentored by Senator Maceda, from 1992 to 2000)," Sotto said.
"Si Senator Maceda may pamahiin. Ayaw niya ng may naka-itim sa eleksyon. Oo, ang tingin niya kapag naka-itim talo ka na (Senator Maceda has a superstition. He doesn't want to see people wearing back during election. Yes, for him, you're a sure loser if you wear black)," he said.
Asked if he copies the superstition, Sotto clarified that it was Maceda's, also a former Senate President.
"Sinabi niya sa akin noong araw ‘yon. Kaya kapag boboto ka na, huwag kang mag-i-itim (He told me that back in the day. So if you’re going to vote, don't wear black)," said the former comedian-turned-veteran legislator.
Sotto did not mention any other political personality.
Curiously, Sotto made these remarks on the same day that reelectionist Senator Imee Marcos dropped her new political ad. She wore black in the ad.
Senator Marcos--who began the election campaign period as part of the administration-backed Alyansa but later broke away from the slate--had leaned heavily into the black or "itim" motif.
Last month, Vice President Sara Duterte, an administration crtic, endorsed Senator Marcos in a political ad themed itim, or the Filipino word for black.
For Duterte and Marcos, the whole country is "in mourning" over the alleged prevalence of hunger and crime. They both wore black in the ad.